Most large cosmopolitan populations in the Asia Pacific region have significant Chinese populations and Auckland is no exceception.
In the Howick / Botany area of South Auckland we have scattered clusters of Chinese, Korean and other Asian businesses and eateries. These though could never have been deemed to be a "Chinatown" in the true sense of the word.
However this has now changed and a large warehosue building that used to house Bunnings hardware store in Ti Takau Road has been converted into our first officially designated Chinatown.
On the day we we visited only half of the stalls were occupied and the vendors were selling cheap tat or fashion garments.
There was a pervading feeling that many of the stall holders will be lucky to survive the next six months but I sincerely hope that I am proved wrong as the city needs cultural centres such as this.
Singapore's Chinatown remains one of the best I have experienced. Sydney's is so-so and San Francisco's a big disappointment.
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